The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 04, 2009

Filed:

Mar. 27, 2002
Applicants:

Geoffrey S. Strongin, Austin, TX (US);

Brian C. Barnes, Round Rock, TX (US);

Rodney Schmidt, Dripping Springs, TX (US);

Inventors:

Geoffrey S. Strongin, Austin, TX (US);

Brian C. Barnes, Round Rock, TX (US);

Rodney Schmidt, Dripping Springs, TX (US);

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Austin, TX (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04L 29/06 (2006.01); G06F 15/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling access to segments of memory having security data stored therein is provided. A security check unit maintains information for a plurality of segments of memory regarding whether each of these plurality of segments has secure data stored therein. A hint directory maintains information regarding whether any of a plurality of these segments has secure data stored therein. The hint directory is capable of bypassing the security check unit when it receives an address that falls within a plurality of the segments that have been indicated as being free from secure data. When the hint directory determines that a received address falls within one of a plurality of segments that contain secure data, then the address is passed to the security check unit for a closer examination.


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